The Trump administration has revoked an 18-month extension of deportation protections granted to over 600,000 Venezuelans by President Joe Biden, potentially exposing them to deportation in the near future.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem officially ended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extension on Tuesday, according to reports.
TPS, which provides work permits and deportation relief for migrants unable to return home due to conflict or disaster, had been extended to late 2026 under Biden’s policy.
Trump previously attempted to terminate TPS for migrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and Sudan during his first term, though some efforts were blocked by the courts.
Noem justified the revocation by arguing that Biden’s DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acted too quickly, stating that the extension was issued too soon after the previous review on January 17.
In recent years, large numbers of Venezuelans have sought refuge in the U.S. due to economic collapse and political repression under Nicolás Maduro. The Biden administration had cited ongoing instability, crime, and resource shortages in Venezuela as reasons for extending TPS.
Venezuelans who were granted TPS in 2021 will retain their protections until September, while those who received it in 2023 are covered through April. Noem has until Saturday to decide whether to renew protections for the latter group—otherwise, the protections will automatically extend for six months.
